i don't think today's message played out so well, which is what david is saying in middle america. >> the problem is not the nra. the problem is we're having the wrong conversation, as usual, in this country. normal people don't shoot peel. >> but what i'm trying to say is that the mentally ill have free access. the new york times had a front page story about the swiss cheese nature of the f.b.i.'s recordkeeping pertaining to those who have mental illness. >> listen, michael. the nra -- this is what wayne lapierre said. he talked about mental illness. they are opposed to background checks on people who go to gun shows, who sell guns from one to another privately. it doesn't matter. >> i wish we had more time. thank you, david corn. thank you steven siebold. >>> up next, the most challenged quotes of the year. and if you want to follow me on twitter, you jest need to know how to spell smerconish. this is "hardball," the place for politics. >>> back to "hardball." the washington post assigns a certain number of pinochios to politicians that might be factually challenged. we were part of